Stick With a Nighttime Routine

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"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."

Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R.

Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals.

Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.

Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women's health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists

Your baby will get used to sleeping wherever you put him down, whether it's in his crib or in bed with you. But he's at an age when he needs some consistency. If he falls asleep in your arms or in your bed, then that's where he'll expect accommodations all night, every night. If you want him to sleep in his own bed, then put him down there while he's still awake. (And remember that wherever your baby is, pillows, fluffy blankets, mattresses with too much space between them and the bed frame, smoke, and adults under the influence of alcohol and drugs shouldn't be.)

Develop a Routine Your baby will cycle through light sleep every two to three hours as an infant, but by now he should be learning how to fall back into deep sleep on his own. Research shows that by 4 months, a baby's brain is mature enough to sleep 6 to 12 hours without really awakening. Rituals are a critical part of your baby's self-settling sleep program — they can help him fall asleep in the first place so he can get back to sleep throughout the night. Your bedtime routine might include a cuddle in a special chair, a song, a music tape, or a snuggle with a special blanket. Once your baby discovers his own style of settling himself back down during the night, both of you will sleep much better. So, hard as it may be, stay in bed instead of jumping up at the first whimper, giving him time to fall back asleep on his own.

FYI: Did you know that lullabies around the world have similar musical characteristics, even though the lyrics, language, and melodies differ? To help calm your baby before bedtime, sing him a lullaby. And if you're still sleep deprived, try these ideas from Dr. Suzanne Dixon.

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